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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala recently expressed concern about a second hard block in South Africa unless there is a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
“Looking at the statistics, we can now safely say that we will definitely return to a hard lockdown if there is not an urgent and drastic change in behavior,” Zikalala said.
His comments followed a steady rise in new COVID-19 infections in recent weeks, raising concerns about a second wave.
Other leaders have also expressed concern about the lack of compliance with current regulations that is causing the virus to spread.
Free State health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said people have let their guard down. This must change to prevent the second wave of COVID-19 infections, he said.
Talk of a second lockdown amid growing COVID-19 cases is not unexpected, as this has happened in many other countries.
Last week Italy imposed tough new restrictions, while Spain announced a national night curfew and banned large gatherings.
Britain has also launched new regional closures with gyms, bars and casinos closed and discouraging non-essential travel.
Graeme Codrington, futurist and partner at TomorrowToday, said the additional lockdown measures are understandable.
He said that many people still die from COVID-19 and that a high percentage of people take a long time to recover and may have long-lasting symptoms of the virus.
“About 20% of people who get COVID-19 take it very seriously. Many need hospitalization and take weeks to recover, “he said.
“There is growing concern that severely affected people have a long-term, perhaps even lifelong medical impact on their system.”
However, he said that at this stage comments about a second tough blockade in South Africa are aimed at warning people rather than immediately implementing stricter measures.
“If we can go back to where we started in South Africa, with science-based policies and serious citizens, I think we can get through this without going back to a strict lockdown,” he said.
“If we don’t, this disease doesn’t care about our vacations or our mood. COVID-19 is with us for a while yet. “
Second economic concern of hard blockade in South Africa
Talk of a second hard lockdown in South Africa has caused many people to warn that it will cause severe damage to an already struggling economy.
ETM Macro Advisors founder Russell Lamberti said the lockdown has had and continues to have devastating effects on the lives and livelihoods of millions of South Africans.
“I am alarmed that another blockade is being considered after the extreme incompetence and mismanagement of the government during the first blockade,” he said.
Lamberti added that there is no good reason to increase blocking restrictions, as they do more harm than good.
“The lockdown restrictions increase destructive and corrupt state actions and leave companies sunk in a sea of uncertainty and loss of revenue,” he said.
He called on Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to act responsibly to prevent another humanitarian disaster.
“The minister must recommend to the president to end all closure restrictions immediately, lift the state of disaster and allow individuals and organizations to manage their unique risks by converting all COVID-19 regulations into non-mandatory recommendations,” he said .
Dick Forslund, an economist and researcher at the Center for Alternative Development and Information, echoed these views, saying that a new strict lockdown will be impossible.
He said that more sophisticated measures, such as large education and awareness campaigns, are better suited to tackle the problem.
“If they go for a hard blockade now, I fear there will be even more state violence. You basically can’t do that, ”said Forslund.
He added that a second hard blockade goes against the economic recovery plans announced by the Treasury.
The Money Show interview with Codrington and Forslund
Daily cases in South Africa
The image below, courtesy of Media Hack, provides an overview of COVID-19 cases and deaths in South Africa.
Now read: Second strict lockdown warning for South Africa
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